Instant Tapioca Substitute for Pie Filling and Cobblers

Instant tapioca is an excellent thickening agent to use in fruit pie fillings and cobblers. But, if you don't have any in your pantry, one of these substitutes can take its place.

Ingredients

arrowroot starch, ClearJel, cornstarch or wheat flour

Best Substitute for Tapioca: Arrowroot Starch

Replace the instant tapioca in a pie or cobbler recipe with an equal amount of arrowroot starch. This will thicken up the filling just as well as the tapioca, and give the fruit a beautiful, glossy sheen.

Arrowroot contains the same kind of starch as tapioca, so it's an excellent substitute, if you happen to have it on hand. Neither require boiling temperatures to thicken.

Also Good: Instant ClearJel

ClearJel is an excellent stand in for tapioca. It stands up beautifully to both high temps and freezing temps, and it delivers a pie filling that's just as clear and shiny as what you'd expect to get from tapioca. Replace the instant tapioca called for with half as much ClearJel.

This isn't a product that you're likely to find at the grocery store, or to have in your pantry. Consider ordering some online, so it'll be available the next time you need to make pie filling.

Still Good: Cornstarch

Replace the instant tapioca called for in your recipe with an equal amount of cornstarch. Your pie filling won't come out quite as thick and glossy as it would with tapioca, but it'll still taste great.

To avoid lumps, mix the cornstarch with the sugar that's supposed to go into your pie filling. Then, add this mixture to your filling. Cornstarch thickens best at high temperatures.

If you plan to freeze your pie, this isn't a good substitute because pie filling made with cornstarch tend to get spongy when it's frozen.

Arrowroot or ClearJel is a better option for freezing.

In a Pinch: Wheat Flour

Wheat flour can replace instant tapioca measure for measure. It thickens when it's exposed to boiling temperatures for several minutes, so it works fine in heated fillings. Expect some small differences in taste, since the flour will contribute its own flavor.

One drawback of wheat flour is that it makes the filling cloudy. If this is a concern, you may want to use cornstarch instead. Since wheat flour contains gluten, it's not a good substitute, if you're trying to make a gluten-free pie.

Pies thickened with flour tend to separate when frozen. Use Arrowroot of ClearJel instead, if you plan to freeze your pie.

Note: These substitution ratios apply specifically to instant tapioca. If your recipe calls for tapioca starch, you'll need to adjust the ratios. Use one tablespoon of arrowroot, cornstarch or flour for every 1-1/2 teaspoons of tapioca starch called for.

These substitutes are intended to replace the tapioca in pie fillings, cobblers and similar dishes. Do not use them as a substitute for the tapioca in tapioca pudding recipes. The results won't be edible.